Hearing prosthesis

Abstract From the Canadian patent

For treatment of conductive hearing loss due, for example, to serous otitis media a synthetic, bubble is implanted in the hypotympanic cavity to displace fluid allowing free motion of the round window. A thin membrane provides the required degree of compliance, and is substantially impermeable to gases and water vapor, resulting in an extended lifetime. A large molecule inert filler gas may be used, either alone, or with normal gases to provide certain partial inflation states wherein osmotic ingress of smaller molecular gases causes sustained self-inflation of the bubble for a substantial time.